WO2020218290A1 - Module d'antenne et dispositif de communication - Google Patents

Module d'antenne et dispositif de communication Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2020218290A1
WO2020218290A1 PCT/JP2020/017181 JP2020017181W WO2020218290A1 WO 2020218290 A1 WO2020218290 A1 WO 2020218290A1 JP 2020017181 W JP2020017181 W JP 2020017181W WO 2020218290 A1 WO2020218290 A1 WO 2020218290A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
antenna elements
antenna
phase shifter
phase
fixed phase
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2020/017181
Other languages
English (en)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
拓彦 佐藤
Original Assignee
株式会社村田製作所
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 株式会社村田製作所 filed Critical 株式会社村田製作所
Priority to DE112020001411.8T priority Critical patent/DE112020001411T5/de
Priority to JP2021516133A priority patent/JP7103512B2/ja
Publication of WO2020218290A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020218290A1/fr
Priority to US17/507,859 priority patent/US11705631B2/en

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture
    • H01Q3/28—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the amplitude
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/2283—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/061—Two dimensional planar arrays
    • H01Q21/065—Patch antenna array
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/22—Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q25/00—Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture
    • H01Q3/30—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture
    • H01Q3/30—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array
    • H01Q3/34—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by electrical means
    • H01Q3/36—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by electrical means with variable phase-shifters
    • H01Q3/38—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by electrical means with variable phase-shifters the phase-shifters being digital

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an antenna module and a communication device.
  • Patent Document 1 describes an antenna device that controls the directivity of radio waves radiated from an antenna using a digital phase shifter.
  • Patent Document 1 an analog phase shifter is connected to some antenna elements in addition to the digital phase shifter. Therefore, the circuit scale may increase. On the other hand, when only the digital phase shifter is used, the difference between the phase discretely changed by the digital phase shifter and the ideal phase becomes large, and the side lobe may increase.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna module and a communication device capable of reducing side lobes while suppressing an increase in circuit scale.
  • the antenna module on one side of the present invention is an antenna module having a digital phase shifter and a plurality of antenna elements connected to the digital phase shifter, and is arranged in the first direction among the plurality of antenna elements.
  • the digital phase shifter has a plurality of antenna elements and a fixed phase shifter, and the digital phase shifter is given the phase of a signal propagating through the plurality of antenna elements arranged in the first direction discretely.
  • the fixed phase shifter is changed to one phase value, and the phase of the signal propagating through the plurality of antenna elements arranged in the first direction is added to the first phase value by a predetermined offset phase value.
  • the center of the antenna element located on one end side in the first direction and the other end side in the first direction are changed to the obtained second phase value.
  • the midpoint of the virtual line connecting the center of the located antenna element as the antenna center two of the plurality of antenna elements arranged in the first direction are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the antenna center.
  • the fixed phase shifter is electrically connected to at least one of the pair of antenna elements.
  • the antenna module on one aspect of the present invention is an antenna module having a digital phase shifter and a plurality of antenna elements connected to the digital phase shifter, the plurality of antenna elements and the plurality of antenna elements. It has a fixed phase shifter that changes the phase of the signal propagating in the antenna to a second phase value obtained by adding a predetermined offset phase value to the first phase value discretely given by the digital phase shifter.
  • the plurality of antenna elements include a plurality of antenna elements of the first group and a plurality of antenna elements of the second group composed of antenna elements not included in the plurality of antenna elements of the first group.
  • the fixed phase shifter is connected to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements in the first group or the plurality of antenna elements in the second group.
  • the communication device on one aspect of the present invention includes the above-mentioned antenna module and a baseband IC that supplies a baseband signal to the antenna module.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an antenna array.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III'of FIG.
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the connection relationship between the plurality of antenna elements and the fixed phase shifter.
  • FIG. 5 is a graph schematically showing the relationship between the phase command value for the signal propagating in the antenna element and the first phase value given by the digital phase shifter and the second phase value given by the fixed phase shifter.
  • FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the beam direction and the relative power in the communication device according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the beam direction and the relative power in the communication device according to the comparative example.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an antenna array.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken
  • FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to the first modification.
  • FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the connection relationship between the plurality of antenna elements and the fixed phase shifter of the communication device according to the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the connection relationship between the plurality of antenna elements and the fixed phase shifter according to the second modification.
  • FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the connection relationship between the plurality of antenna elements and the fixed phase shifter of the communication device according to the third embodiment.
  • FIG. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between the phase shift amount of the fixed phase shifter and the sidelobe level of the communication device according to the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to the first embodiment.
  • the communication device 10 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a smartphone or a tablet terminal, a personal computer having a communication function, or the like.
  • the communication device 10 may be backhaul communication for communication between base stations and communication between the base station and the core network.
  • the communication device 10 includes an antenna module 100 and a baseband IC 200 (hereinafter referred to as a BBIC (Baseband Integrated Circuit)).
  • the antenna module 100 includes an RFIC (Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit) 110, which is an example of a power feeding circuit, and an antenna array 120.
  • the BBIC 200 constitutes a baseband signal processing circuit. The BBIC 200 supplies the baseband signal to the antenna module 100.
  • the communication device 10 up-converts the signal transmitted from the BBIC 200 to the antenna module 100 into a high-frequency signal and radiates it from the antenna array 120. Further, the communication device 10 down-converts the high frequency signal received by the antenna array 120 and processes the signal by the BBIC 200.
  • the RFIC 110 includes switches 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D, 113A, 113B, 113C, 113D, 117, power amplifiers 112AT, 112BT, 112CT, 112DT, low noise amplifiers 112AR, 112BR, 112CR, 112DR, and attenuators 114A, 114B. , 114C, 114D, digital phase shifters 115A, 115B, 115C, 115D, a signal synthesizer / demultiplexer 116, a mixer 118, and an amplifier circuit 119.
  • the switches 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D, 113A, 113B, 113C, 113D are switched to the power amplifiers 112AT, 112BT, 112CT, 112DT side. Further, the switch 117 is connected to the transmitting side amplifier of the amplifier circuit 119.
  • the signal transmitted from the BBIC 200 is amplified by the amplifier circuit 119 and up-converted by the mixer 118.
  • the transmitted signal which is an up-converted high-frequency signal, is demultiplexed by the signal synthesizer / demultiplexer 116, passes through four signal paths, and is fed to different antenna elements 121.
  • the directivity of the antenna array 120 can be adjusted by individually adjusting the phase values of the digital phase shifters 115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D arranged in each signal path.
  • the switches 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D, 113A, 113B, 113C, 113D are switched to the low noise amplifier 112AR, 112BR, 112CR, 112DR side. Further, the switch 117 is connected to the receiving side amplifier of the amplifier circuit 119.
  • the received signal which is a high-frequency signal received by each antenna element 121, passes through four different signal paths and is combined by the signal synthesizer / demultiplexer 116.
  • the combined received signal is down-converted by the mixer 118, amplified by the amplifier circuit 119, and transmitted to the BBIC 200.
  • the RFIC 110 further has a scanning control circuit 130.
  • the scanning control circuit 130 is a circuit that controls the beam direction Db at the time of transmission and the beam direction Db at the time of reception.
  • the scanning control circuit 130 includes a beam direction control circuit 131 and a phase control circuit 132.
  • the beam direction control circuit 131 outputs a control signal based on the beam direction Db at the time of transmission or the beam direction Db at the time of reception to the phase control circuit 132.
  • the phase control circuit 132 calculates the phase of the signal propagating through each antenna element 121 based on the control signal from the beam direction control circuit 131, and sets the phase command value ⁇ a to the digital phase shifters 115A, 115B, 115C, 115D. Output.
  • the digital phase shifters 115A, 115B, 115C, 115D set the phase of the signal propagating through each antenna element 121 to the first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4 (see FIG. 5) based on the phase command value ⁇ a. change.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to at least one or more antenna elements 121 among the plurality of antenna elements 121.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 changes the phase of the signal propagating through each antenna element 121 to the second phase values J1, J2, J3, and J4 (see FIG. 5).
  • the second phase values J1, J2, J3, and J4 are predetermined offset phase values ⁇ os with respect to the first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4 discretely given by the digital phase shifters 115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D. Is the phase value with the addition of.
  • the RFIC 110 is formed as, for example, a one-chip integrated circuit component including the above circuit configuration.
  • the devices switch, power amplifier, low noise amplifier, attenuator, digital phase shifter
  • the scanning control circuit 130 is not limited to the configuration provided in the RFIC 110, and may be not included in the RFIC 110 and may be provided in the communication device 10.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an antenna array.
  • the antenna array 120 has a substrate 122 on which a plurality of antenna elements 121 are provided.
  • a ceramic multilayer substrate is used as the substrate 122 .
  • a low-temperature co-fired ceramics multilayer substrate LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics) multilayer substrate
  • the substrate 122 may be a multilayer resin substrate formed by laminating a plurality of resin layers composed of resins such as epoxy and polyimide.
  • the substrate 122 may be a multilayer resin substrate formed by laminating a plurality of resin layers composed of a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) having a low dielectric constant, and may be a resin layer composed of a fluororesin. It may be a multilayer resin substrate formed by laminating a plurality of layers, or a ceramic multilayer substrate which is sintered at a temperature higher than that of LTCC.
  • LCP liquid crystal polymer
  • the plurality of antenna elements 121 are arranged in the first direction Dx and in the second direction Dy in a plan view.
  • the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy are directions parallel to the first main surface 122a of the substrate 122.
  • the first direction Dx is a direction along one side of the substrate 122.
  • the second direction Dy is orthogonal to the first direction Dx.
  • the third direction Dz is a direction orthogonal to the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy. That is, the third direction Dz is a direction perpendicular to the first main surface 122a of the substrate 122.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III'of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the substrate 122 is arranged so as to face the mother substrate 140. The board 122 is electrically connected to the mother board 140 via the terminal 141.
  • the RFIC 110 is provided on the second main surface 122b of the substrate 122.
  • the plurality of antenna elements 121 are provided on the first main surface 122a side of the substrate 122.
  • the plurality of antenna elements 121 are provided on the inner layer of the substrate 122.
  • the present invention is not limited to this, and the plurality of antenna elements 121 may be provided on the surface layer of the substrate 122, and a protective layer may be provided so as to cover the plurality of antenna elements 121.
  • the plurality of antenna elements 121 are electrically connected to the RFIC 110 via the transmission line 123, respectively.
  • the transmission line 123 includes wiring provided on the substrate 122 and vias provided between layers. One end of the transmission line 123 is connected to the feeding point 126 of the antenna element 121, and the other end of the transmission line 123 is connected to the terminal 128 of the RFIC 110.
  • the second phase values J1, J2, J3, and J4 of the fixed phase shifter 125 can be adjusted by changing the line length of the transmission line 123.
  • the line length of the transmission line 123 is set to the line length La.
  • the line length of the transmission line 123 is set to the line length Lb.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is configured by setting the line length Lb standardized by the wavelength ⁇ and the line length La standardized by the wavelength ⁇ to be different lengths.
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the connection relationship between the plurality of antenna elements and the fixed phase shifter.
  • a plurality of antenna elements 121 arranged in the first direction Dx will be described for the sake of clarity.
  • antenna element 121 As shown in FIG. 4, in the antenna array 120, for example, eight antenna elements 121a to 121h are arranged in the first direction Dx. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish the antenna element 121h from the antenna element 121a, it is simply referred to as the antenna element 121.
  • the two antenna elements 121 arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the antenna center Cx are designated as a pair of antenna elements P1, P2, P3, and P4, respectively.
  • the antenna center Cx is the antenna element center Ca (see FIG. 2) of the antenna element 121a located on one end side of the first direction Dx among the plurality of antenna elements 121 arranged in the first direction Dx. It is the midpoint of the virtual line LCx connecting the antenna element 121h located on the other end side of the unidirectional Dx with the antenna element center Ca.
  • the antenna element center Ca is the position of the center of gravity of each antenna element 121 in a plan view, and when the antenna element 121 is rectangular, it overlaps with the position of the intersection of the diagonal lines.
  • the "symmetrical position" means that, for example, the antenna element center Ca of the antenna element 121a and the antenna element center Ca of the antenna element 121h are arranged symmetrically.
  • the present invention is not limited to this, and includes the case where the symmetrical position of the antenna element center Ca of the antenna element 121a overlaps with the antenna element 121h at a portion deviated from the antenna element center Ca of the antenna element 121h.
  • the pair of antenna elements P1 is composed of an antenna element 121a and an antenna element 121h.
  • the pair of antenna elements P2 is composed of an antenna element 121b and an antenna element 121g.
  • the pair of antenna elements P3 is composed of an antenna element 121c and an antenna element 121f.
  • the pair of antenna elements P4 is composed of an antenna element 121d and an antenna element 121e.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to one of the antenna elements 121d, 121f, 121g, and 121h, respectively. That is, one of the antenna elements 121d, 121f, 121g, 121h is connected to the digital phase shifter 115 via the fixed phase shifter 125.
  • the other antenna elements 121a, 121b, 121c, and 121e are connected to the digital phase shifter 115 without going through the fixed phase shifter 125, respectively.
  • FIG. 5 is a graph schematically showing the relationship between the phase command value for the signal propagating in the antenna element and the first phase value given by the digital phase shifter and the second phase value given by the fixed phase shifter.
  • the horizontal axis of the graph shown in FIG. 5 is the phase command value ⁇ a, which is the command value output from the phase control circuit 132 (see FIG. 1).
  • the phase command value ⁇ a is a command value that controls the phase of the signal propagating through each antenna element 121 when the beam direction Db of the antenna array 120 is tilted by an angle ⁇ with respect to the third direction Dz.
  • the vertical axis of the graph shown in FIG. 5 is the phase ⁇ of the signal propagating through each antenna element 121.
  • the antenna array 120 has directivity in the third direction Dz.
  • the ideal phase value ⁇ m of the signal propagating through each antenna element 121 is expressed by the following equation (2).
  • d is the antenna element spacing d.
  • the antenna element spacing d is the spacing between the antenna element centers Ca of the adjacent antenna elements 121.
  • the digital phase shifter 115 has a quantization bit i of 2 bits and has four first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4.
  • the first phase value I1, I2, I3, I4 are discretely arranged every 2 ⁇ / 2 i.
  • the first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4 are 0 °, 90 °, 180 °, and 270 °, respectively.
  • the quantization bit i may be 1 bit or 3 bits or more.
  • the digital phase shifter 115 changes the phase ⁇ of the signal propagating through the antenna element 121a among the pair of antenna elements P1 to any of the discretely arranged first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4. ..
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 changes the phase of the signal propagating through the antenna element 121h to any of the second phase values J1, J2, J3, and J4.
  • the second phase values J1, J2, J3, and J4 are the phases obtained by adding a predetermined offset phase value ⁇ os to the first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4 discretely given by the digital phase shifter 115.
  • the offset phase value ⁇ os can be set according to the difference in length in which the line length Lb and the line length La are standardized at the wavelength ⁇ .
  • the offset phase value ⁇ os is a phase value that is half of the difference between the adjacent first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4 among the plurality of first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4 of the digital phase shifter 115. is there.
  • the difference (discrete width) between the adjacent first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4 is 90 °
  • the offset phase value ⁇ os is half 45 °. That is, the second phase values J1, J2, J3, and J4 are 45 °, 135 °, 225 °, and 315 °, respectively.
  • the difference between the phase ⁇ (first phase values I1, I2, I3, I4) changed by the digital phase shifter 115 and the ideal phase value ⁇ m is defined as the first quantization error DE1.
  • the difference between the phase ⁇ (second phase values J1, J2, J3, J4) changed by the digital phase shifter 115 and the fixed phase shifter 125 and the ideal phase value ⁇ m is defined as the second quantization error DE2. ..
  • the total quantization error may increase by providing the fixed phase shifter 125.
  • the first quantization error DE1 is ⁇ 60 ° and the second quantization error DE2 is It becomes 15 °. That is, when the beam direction Db is tilted by an angle ⁇ with respect to the third direction Dz, the quantization error of the pair of antenna elements P1 is larger than that in the configuration in which the phase is controlled only by the digital phase shifter 115. The average value is suppressed.
  • FIG. 5 shows a pair of antenna elements P1 (antenna elements 121a and 121h), the same applies to the pair of antenna elements P2, P3 and P4 (antenna elements 121b to 121g).
  • the antenna module 100 and the communication device 10 of the present embodiment in the beam pattern of the antenna array 120, the average value of the side lobes based on the first quantization error DE1 and the second quantization error DE2 is reduced. Can be done. Further, the pair of antenna elements P1, P2, P3, and P4 are fixed to the antenna elements 121d, 121f, 121g, and 121h to which the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected at positions symmetrical with respect to the antenna center Cx. Antenna elements 121a, 121b, 121c, 121e to which the phase shifter 125 is not connected are provided. Thereby, the side lobe level can be effectively suppressed.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is provided on the substrate 122, and is composed of a transmission line 123 that electrically connects the antenna element 121 and the RFIC 110. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the circuit scale of the RFIC 110 as compared with a configuration in which an analog phase shifter is provided in addition to the digital phase shifter 115 or when the number of bits of the digital phase shifter 115 is increased.
  • the configuration of the communication device 10 of the present embodiment can be changed as appropriate.
  • the plurality of antenna elements 121 are not limited to patch antennas, and may have other configurations such as a flat horn antenna. Further, the number of antenna elements 121 may be 9 or more arranged in the first direction Dx, or 7 or less.
  • FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the beam direction and the relative power in the communication device according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the beam direction and the relative power in the communication device according to the comparative example.
  • the communication device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 shows a beam pattern in the communication device 10 in which the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to the antenna elements 121d, 121f, 121g, 121h, as in the example shown in FIG.
  • the communication device according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 7 shows a configuration in which the fixed phase shifter 125 is not connected and the phases of all the antenna elements 121 are controlled by the digital phase shifter 115.
  • the horizontal axis is the angle ⁇ x in the beam direction Db, and the vertical axis is the relative power.
  • the angle ⁇ x indicates the angle of the main beam with respect to the third direction Dz.
  • the maximum relative power of the main beam is about 17.8 dB.
  • the maximum relative power of the sidelobe SL0 is about 6.1 dB. That is, the side lobe level is about -11.1.7 dB.
  • the sidelobe level is about -11.6 dB.
  • the sidelobe level is about ⁇ 6.1 dB.
  • the sidelobe level is about -10.3 dB.
  • the sidelobe level 35 °, the sidelobe level is about -11.6 dB.
  • the maximum relative power of the main beam is about 18.1 dB.
  • the maximum relative power of the sidelobe SL0 is about 5.2 dB. That is, the side lobe level is about -12.9 dB.
  • the sidelobe level is about ⁇ 6.7 dB.
  • the sidelobe level is about ⁇ 5.8 dB.
  • the sidelobe level is about ⁇ 7.0 dB.
  • the sidelobe level 35 °, the sidelobe level is about ⁇ 6.7 dB.
  • FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to the first modification.
  • the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
  • the configuration in which the fixed phase shifter 125 is provided on the RFIC 110 will be described.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is composed of the wiring provided in the RFIC 110.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is composed of wiring connecting the switches 111B and 111D and the terminal 128 of the RFIC 110.
  • a fixed phase shifter 125 is not provided between the switches 111A and 111C and the terminal 128 of the RFIC 110.
  • the position of the fixed phase shifter 125 in the RFIC 110 is not limited to this.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 can be provided at any position in the signal path between the signal synthesizer / demultiplexer 116 and the terminal 128.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is configured by the wiring of the RFIC 110, it is possible to suppress an increase in the circuit scale of the RFIC 110. Further, since it is not necessary to change the transmission line 123 provided in the antenna array 120, the substrate 122 can be easily manufactured.
  • FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the connection relationship between the plurality of antenna elements and the fixed phase shifter of the communication device according to the second embodiment.
  • the phase shift is fixed to one of the plurality of antenna elements 121 of the plurality of antenna elements G1 of the first group or the plurality of antenna elements G2 of the second group.
  • the configuration in which the vessel 125 is connected will be described.
  • the plurality of antenna elements 121 are different from the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group and the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group, and the plurality of antennas in the first group. It has a plurality of antenna elements G2 of a second group composed of antenna elements 121 not included in the element G1.
  • the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group are composed of antenna elements 121a, 121b, 121c, and 121d.
  • the plurality of antenna elements G2 of the second group are composed of antenna elements 121e, 121f, 121g, and 121h.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to the plurality of antenna elements 121e, 121f, 121g, 121h of the plurality of antenna elements G2 in the second group, respectively.
  • the plurality of antenna elements G1 of the first group are connected to the digital phase shifter 115 without going through the fixed phase shifter 125.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to the plurality of antenna elements 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d of the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group, respectively, and the plurality of antenna elements G2 in the second group are connected.
  • it may be configured to be connected to the digital phase shifter 115 without going through the fixed phase shifter 125.
  • the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group and the plurality of antenna elements G2 in the second group can be arbitrarily selected.
  • the digital phase shifter 115 connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group is set to one of the same first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4. That is, the signals propagating through the terminals 128 connected to the plurality of antenna elements G1 of the first group have the same phase value without a phase difference.
  • the digital phase shifter 115 connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements G2 in the second group is set to one of the same first phase values I1, I2, I3, and I4. That is, the signals propagating through the terminals 128 connected to the plurality of antenna elements G2 of the second group have the same phase value without a phase difference. Further, the signal propagating through each feeding point 126 of the plurality of antenna elements G2 in the second group is the first phase values I1, I2, I3, I4 of the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group by the fixed phase shifter 125. It has a phase difference of the offset phase value ⁇ os.
  • the side lobe level in the direction inclined by the angle ⁇ x with respect to the third direction Dz can be suppressed as in the first embodiment described above.
  • FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the connection relationship between the plurality of antenna elements and the fixed phase shifter according to the second modification.
  • the second modification a configuration in which the arrangement of the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group and the plurality of antenna elements G2 in the second group are different from those in the second embodiment described above will be described.
  • the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group and the plurality of antenna elements G2 in the second group can be arbitrarily selected.
  • the plurality of antenna elements G1 in the first group are composed of antenna elements 121c, 121d, 121e, and 121f.
  • the plurality of antenna elements G2 of the second group are composed of antenna elements 121a, 121b, 121g, and 121h.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to a plurality of antenna elements 121a, 121b, 121g, 121h of the plurality of antenna elements G2 in the second group, respectively.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to the antenna elements 121a and 121h arranged symmetrically with respect to the antenna center Cx, respectively. Further, the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to the antenna elements 121b and 121g, respectively. On the other hand, the fixed phase shifter 125 is not connected to the antenna elements 121c and 121f arranged symmetrically with respect to the antenna center Cx. Similarly, the fixed phase shifter 125 is not connected to the antenna elements 121d and 121e.
  • the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the fixed phase shifter 125 can be improved as compared with the first embodiment, the second embodiment and the first modification described above.
  • the configuration of the first modification described above can be applied.
  • FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the connection relationship between the plurality of antenna elements and the fixed phase shifter of the communication device according to the third embodiment.
  • the phase shifter is fixed to the antenna element 121 arranged in the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy.
  • the configuration in which 125 is connected will be described.
  • the antenna element 121 to which the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected is shown with diagonal lines.
  • a plurality of antenna elements 121a1, 121b1, 121c1, 121d1, 121e1, 121f1, 121g1, 121h1 are arranged in the first direction Dx.
  • the antenna element row 121S is composed of a plurality of antenna elements 121 arranged in the first direction Dx.
  • the antenna element rows 121S-1, 121S-2, 121S-3, 121S-4 are arranged in the second direction Dy.
  • each antenna element row 121S the antenna element 121 to which the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected and the antenna element 121 to which the fixed phase shifter 125 is not connected are alternately arranged. Further, in each antenna element row 121S, the antenna element 121 to which the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected and the antenna element 121 to which the fixed phase shifter 125 is not connected are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the antenna center Cx. To.
  • the antenna element train 121T is composed of a plurality of antenna elements 121 arranged in the second direction Dy.
  • the antenna element trains 121T-1, 121T-2, 121T-3, 121T-4, 121T-5, 121T-6, 121T-7, 121T-8 are arranged in the first direction Dx.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 is not connected to the plurality of antenna elements 121a1 and 121a2, and the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to the plurality of antenna elements 121a3 and 121a4. Further, in the antenna element train 121T-2, the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected to the plurality of antenna elements 121b1 and 121b2, and the fixed phase shifter 125 is not connected to the plurality of antenna elements 121b3 and 121b4.
  • the connection pattern showing the connection relationship between the fixed phase shifter 125 and each antenna element 121 is from the antenna element row 121T-3 to the antenna element row 121T-. It is repeatedly arranged in 8. Further, in each antenna element row 121T, the antenna element 121 to which the fixed phase shifter 125 is connected and the antenna element 121 to which the fixed phase shifter 125 is not connected are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the antenna center Cy. To.
  • the element numbers of the plurality of antenna elements 121 arranged in the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy are represented by element numbers (m, n).
  • PSmn (S (m)) XOR (T (n)) ... (3)
  • XOR is a logical symbol representing the exclusive OR.
  • the communication device 10D of the third embodiment even when the beam direction Db is directed in the direction inclined in the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy with respect to the third direction Dz, the side is satisfactorily used.
  • the lobe can be suppressed.
  • FIG. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between the phase shift amount of the fixed phase shifter and the sidelobe level of the communication device according to the fourth embodiment.
  • the fourth embodiment unlike each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, a case where the phase shift amount of the fixed phase shifter 125 is other than 45 ° will be described.
  • the horizontal axis represents the phase shift amount of the fixed phase shifter 125
  • the vertical axis represents the side lobe level.
  • the phase shift amount of the fixed phase shifter 125 corresponds to the offset phase value ⁇ os shown in FIG.
  • the phase shift amount of 0 ° or more and 45 ° or less is shown, and the relationship between the phase shift amount of 45 ° or more and 90 ° or less and the side lobe level is omitted.
  • the sidelobe level at a phase shift amount of 45 ° or more and 90 ° or less has a line symmetry relationship with FIG. 12, and the sidelobe level shown in FIG. It becomes a side lobe level with the left and right inverted.
  • the fixed phase shifter 125 shows the smallest side lobe level at 45 °. Even if the phase shift amount of the fixed phase shifter 125 deviates from 45 °, even if the phase shift amount is 15 ° or 30 °, the sidelobe level is only slightly increased and the phase shift amount is 45 °. It shows virtually the same sidelobe level as the case. Sidelobe levels increase in the range where the amount of phase shift is less than 15 °. As described above, it was shown that the side lobe level can be suppressed in the range where the phase shift amount of the fixed phase shifter 125 is 15 ° or more and 45 ° or less.
  • the phase shift amount of the fixed phase shifter 125 is 15. It was shown that the side lobe level can be suppressed in the range of ° or more and 75 ° or less.
  • Antenna module 110 RFIC 115, 115A, 115B, 115C, 115D Digital phase shifter 120 Antenna array 121, 121a, 121b, 121c, 121d, 121e, 121f, 121g, 121h Antenna element 122 Board 123 Transmission line 125 Fixed phase shifter P1, P2, P3 , P4 Pair of antenna elements G1 Multiple antenna elements in the first group G2 Multiple antenna elements in the second group 200 BBIC

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un module d'antenne comprenant : un déphaseur numérique ; une pluralité d'éléments d'antenne comprenant une pluralité d'éléments d'antenne disposés en réseau dans une première direction ; et un déphaseur fixe. Le déphaseur numérique change la phase d'un signal se propageant dans la pluralité d'éléments d'antenne disposés en réseau dans la première direction vers une première valeur de phase qui est donnée de façon discrète, et le déphaseur fixe change la phase du signal se propageant dans la pluralité d'éléments d'antenne disposés en réseau dans la première direction vers une seconde valeur de phase obtenue en ajoutant une valeur de phase de décalage prédéterminée à la première valeur de phase. Lorsqu'un point central d'une ligne virtuelle connectant le centre d'un élément d'antenne positionné sur une extrémité dans la première direction et le centre d'un élément d'antenne positionné sur l'autre extrémité est défini comme centre d'antenne, et deux éléments de la pluralité d'éléments d'antenne disposés en réseau dans la première direction qui sont disposés à des positions symétriques par rapport au centre d'antenne sont définis en tant que paire d'éléments d'antenne, le déphaseur fixe est électriquement connecté à au moins l'un de la paire d'éléments d'antenne.
PCT/JP2020/017181 2019-04-25 2020-04-21 Module d'antenne et dispositif de communication WO2020218290A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE112020001411.8T DE112020001411T5 (de) 2019-04-25 2020-04-21 Antennenmodul und Kommunikationsvorrichtung
JP2021516133A JP7103512B2 (ja) 2019-04-25 2020-04-21 アンテナモジュール及び通信装置
US17/507,859 US11705631B2 (en) 2019-04-25 2021-10-22 Antenna module and communication apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2019-084698 2019-04-25
JP2019084698 2019-04-25

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US17/507,859 Continuation US11705631B2 (en) 2019-04-25 2021-10-22 Antenna module and communication apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020218290A1 true WO2020218290A1 (fr) 2020-10-29

Family

ID=72941897

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/JP2020/017181 WO2020218290A1 (fr) 2019-04-25 2020-04-21 Module d'antenne et dispositif de communication

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US11705631B2 (fr)
JP (1) JP7103512B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE112020001411T5 (fr)
WO (1) WO2020218290A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2008312197A (ja) * 2007-05-11 2008-12-25 Taiyo Yuden Co Ltd アダプティブアレーアンテナ装置及びその指向性制御方法
JP2009218677A (ja) * 2008-03-07 2009-09-24 Nec Corp アンテナ装置、給電回路および電波送受信方法
JP2011044774A (ja) * 2009-08-19 2011-03-03 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency アナログ・デジタル積層型可変移相器

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0290804A (ja) 1988-09-28 1990-03-30 Mitsubishi Electric Corp アンテナ装置
FR2652452B1 (fr) * 1989-09-26 1992-03-20 Europ Agence Spatiale Dispositif d'alimentation d'une antenne a faisceaux multiples.
JPH03165104A (ja) 1989-11-24 1991-07-17 Tech Res & Dev Inst Of Japan Def Agency 電子走査アンテナ
JP3481482B2 (ja) * 1998-12-24 2003-12-22 日本電気株式会社 フェーズドアレイアンテナおよびその製造方法
JP3481481B2 (ja) * 1998-12-24 2003-12-22 日本電気株式会社 フェーズドアレイアンテナおよびその製造方法
JP6057841B2 (ja) 2013-06-14 2017-01-11 三菱電機株式会社 遅延時間差測定装置、フェーズドアレーアンテナ装置及び遅延時間差測定方法
EP2975688B1 (fr) * 2014-07-15 2019-10-09 Alcatel Lucent Système d'alimentation d'antenne et procédé de configuration d'une alimentation d'antenne
US10374663B2 (en) * 2016-12-30 2019-08-06 Hughes Network Systems, Llc Digital dithering for reduction of quantization errors and side-lobe levels in phased array antennas
CN108390703B (zh) * 2018-01-25 2021-02-19 成都天锐星通科技有限公司 一种多波束相控阵天线机构
US20190273524A1 (en) * 2018-03-05 2019-09-05 Maxlinear, Inc. Methods and systems for utilizing ultra-efficiency low noise configurations for phased array antennas
US11218203B1 (en) * 2020-01-29 2022-01-04 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Coordinated dynamic analog beamformer

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2008312197A (ja) * 2007-05-11 2008-12-25 Taiyo Yuden Co Ltd アダプティブアレーアンテナ装置及びその指向性制御方法
JP2009218677A (ja) * 2008-03-07 2009-09-24 Nec Corp アンテナ装置、給電回路および電波送受信方法
JP2011044774A (ja) * 2009-08-19 2011-03-03 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency アナログ・デジタル積層型可変移相器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20220045424A1 (en) 2022-02-10
US11705631B2 (en) 2023-07-18
DE112020001411T5 (de) 2021-12-23
JPWO2020218290A1 (ja) 2021-10-21
JP7103512B2 (ja) 2022-07-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11171421B2 (en) Antenna module and communication device equipped with the same
US11362418B2 (en) Antenna module
US11936123B2 (en) Sub-array antenna, array antenna, antenna module, and communication device
JP6973663B2 (ja) アンテナモジュールおよび通信装置
WO2020066604A1 (fr) Module d'antenne, dispositif de communication et antenne réseau
US20240047881A1 (en) Antenna module
KR20160042740A (ko) 안테나, 안테나 패키지 및 통신 모듈
US20240186723A1 (en) Antenna module and communication device equipped therewith
US20210143531A1 (en) Antenna element, antenna module, and communication device
JP7103512B2 (ja) アンテナモジュール及び通信装置
JP6798656B1 (ja) アンテナモジュールおよびそれを搭載した通信装置
US20210226335A1 (en) Antenna module and communication device equipped with the same
WO2021079602A1 (fr) Structure d'antenne réseau à ondes circulairement polarisées
US11909119B2 (en) Circular polarization array antenna device
US20240313426A1 (en) Antenna module and communication device equipped with the same
WO2022004111A1 (fr) Module d'antenne et dispositif de communication équipé de celui-ci
US20240195079A1 (en) Antenna device, antenna module, and communication device
US20240178567A1 (en) Antenna module and communication apparatus equipped with the same
WO2023037805A1 (fr) Module d'antenne et dispositif de communication équipé de celui-ci
WO2023157450A1 (fr) Module d'antenne et dispositif de communication avec ce module d'antenne monté dessus
WO2020218289A1 (fr) Composant de module, module d'antenne et dispositif de communication

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 20794340

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2021516133

Country of ref document: JP

Kind code of ref document: A

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 20794340

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1